However, he was handed a lifeline by Tim Sherwood when he took over at White Hart Lane and has repaid his manager's faith with five goals in eight league games.

Adebayor will look to add to that tally against Everton tomorrow and in turn, continue to prove his doubters wrong.

He told Sky Sports: "I remember in early September when I went home and did an interview saying it would not take me long to be the number one striker again in Tottenham.

"A lot of fans, not everyone, jumped on that, 'Oh, who does he think he is?

"These are the things that give me motivation and these are the things that keep me going.

"When you wake up and you realise that there are a lot of haters out there and you want to prove them wrong, you just keep focused and keep doing what you love best, which is playing football, scoring goals and having fun."